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August 2014

Word & World Lecture focuses on mental health

The 2014 Word & World Lecture will be held Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m. on the Luther Seminary campus.

The Word & World lectures focus on topics important to Christian ministry in today's world. In keeping with that tradition, this year's lecture is being presented by Professor John Swinton of the Centre for Spirituality, Health, and Disability at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Swinton's lecture is titled, "Time, Hospitality, and Belonging: Towards a Practical Theology of Mental Health and Illness."

The foundation for Swinton's research and teaching has emerged from his background in nursing, ministry and healthcare chaplaincy. He worked for more than 16 years as a mental health and learning disabilities nurse, as well as a community mental health chaplain. While working in these fields he began to gain a passion for developing modes of care that are genuinely person centered and which take seriously the significance of theology, spirituality and religion within the processes of healing and community building. Dr. Swinton is also an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland.